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November 24, 2005
I guess I have got a lot to say!
First of all: thanks everyone, for your kind words about the Christmas tree hat! It's so nice to read all your comments, it really made my day. I haven't heard about the baby yet, but it could be any day now.
Shopping for yarn
There are lots of advantages of living close to the German border. One of them is the opportunity to visit yarn shops. I believe there is at least one yarn shop in every German village. On Tuesday, I took the bus to Kleve. Kleve is in Germany, about 30 kilometers from Nijmegen, and it has about 50.000 inhabitants. Nijmegen has almost 160.000 inhabitants. In Nijmegen, there is one (not very well stocked) yarn shop, not even in the town center but in a suburb. Kleve, on the other hand, has at least three yarn shops that I know of, all within walking distance of each other right in the town center. Why can't we have that over here [sob]?
I went to the two shops I like best:
Pulcinella, Hopfensackstege 6
This shop sells ggh yarns and of course the Rebecca magazine. It has some Colinette yarn, and most importantly, it has lots of Regia sock yarn in stock. No website available, unfortunately.
Handarbeiten Ververs, Kavarinerstrasse 26
To be honest, this shop is really more of a cross stitch and embroidery shop, but they also sell Lana Grossa yarns, including the Meilenweit sock yarn.
So what did I buy?
A 50 g ball of Regia Silk in a very dark blue (to make wrist warmers), a 150 g ball of Lana Grossa Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch Special (390 m, color no. 8830 (orange)), a 150 g ball of Fortissima Colori Socka Color (375 m, color no. 12) and a sock book by the makers of Regia. The large balls of sock yarn will be used to make socks for my SO. He has such large feet, but with this thick yarn I will be able to finish a pair before I go mad with boredom. Yay!
What else is new?
I made a pair of small mittens, just for fun.
click
Source of inspiration:The Mitten Book by Inger and Ingrid Gottfridsson, once again.
Yarn: Fortissima Socka 75% wool, 25% polyamide, 50 g/210 m. White: color no. 1001 and blue: Fortissima Jeans color no. 03.
Needles: 2.5 mm dpns.
Gauge: 9.5 spi - 38 st/10 cm
Finished dimensions: 5 inches - 12.5 cm from cuff to tip.
Ajoursteek asked: where did you get your copy from The Almanac? Is it for sale here in Holland?
I got my copy a long time ago from Amazon, but I just checked with Proxis and they've got it too, for only € 7.70 + € 2 shipping. I haven't seen it anywhere in a Dutch shop.
It's a lovely little book (pocket size), especially if you like to read about knitting. It doesn't have any color pictures or color charts, in fact, it looks a bit old fashioned, but don't let that scare you!
Just to prepare you, here is a picture of the front page:
And somewhere inside:
I just love it and read it over and over again, as you can see from my tattered copy. And for just € 7.70, you can't go wrong. (And if you order for more than € 25, there are no shipping costs. Now that wouldn't be hard to do, would it? Proxis has lots of great knitting books...)
Posted by saartje at November 24, 2005 11:55 AM
Comments
Just placed my order for the Almanac, thanks a lot for the tip! (oh well, had to get the free shipping...)
I'd like to second you on the lack of yarn shops and the variety available in this country. What about the prices, are they any better over the border?
Posted by: basak at November 24, 2005 4:24 PM
Your little mittens, "just for fun", are amazing! You are so good at colorwork. Enjoy your new treasures!
Posted by: Karma at November 24, 2005 4:47 PM
I like very much your blog, and I enjoy also Elizabeth Zimmermann! Probably you share with her the taste for colors, freedom and creation? Like what we can see with your mittens!
Posted by: fleur at November 24, 2005 11:24 PM
Hello Saartje, your Blog is correctly interesting and I goes gladly on your Site in order too "stöbern". You have always completely very good Tipps to knit. Thank you for it. I find it amazingly that you drive to Kleve, in order to buy wool. I thought always in Holland would be more low-priced wool. In the online Shop "ribbels - alles om te breien" seemed to me in such a way. I wanted to order myself wool in Holland!!! I wish you further much fun with your wonderful cord work and send you dear greetings from Hameln. Maartje
Posted by: Maartje at November 25, 2005 6:13 PM
Hey Saartje,
right we have some great yarnshops over here! I found one I havent't known of in my town yesterday while driving along.Next time in town I know where I'll have to go...
If you should ever need any help with your german sock patterns, you know where to find me on the www!
Posted by: Tina at November 27, 2005 6:14 PM
Knitter's Almanac was my very first knitting book, and still is my favorite. Mine is as well read and worn as your copy.
I'll be making a few of those korknisse sometime soon.
Posted by: Siri at January 3, 2006 7:25 AM
